Paris Rapid & Blitz 2021

**Wayne Komer** · Friday, 18th June, 2021, 03:19 PM

Paris Rapid & Blitz 2021

June 18, 2021

Rapid

Day 1

Round 1

Firouzja-So 0.5-0.5
Radjabov-Aronian 0.5-0.5
Svidler-MVL 1-0
Caruana-Nepo 0.5-0.5
Bacrot-Rapport 1-0

Round 2

So-Rapport 1-0
Nepo-Bacrot 1-0
Aronian-Caruana 0.5-0.5
MVL-Radjabov 1-0
Firouzja-Svidler 0.5-0.5

Round 3

Svidler-So 0.5-0.5
Radjabov-Firouzja 1-0
Caruana-MVL 0.5-0.5
Rapport-Nepo 0.5-0.5
Bacrot-Aronian 0-1

Well, Rapport is here. He is World Number 11, just behind Radjabov and a little ahead of Firouzja. Kramnik is listed but not playing. What actually is happening is that there is the Team Bacrot/Kramnik. Bacrot will play the rapid portion and Kramnik will play the blitz portion of the tournament. Their combined score will account for one placing.

Selected Games

Round 1, June 18
Firouzja, Alireza – So, Wesley
C54 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 a6 8.a4 Ba7 9.O-O Qe7 10.Nbd2 g5 11.Bg3 Nh7 12.b4 Nf8 13.d4 Ng6 14.b5 Na5 15.h3 h5 16.Bd5 Bb6 17.Qb1 g4 18.hxg4 hxg4 19.Nh2 Qg5 20.Qd3 Nf4 21.Qe3 Qh6 22.Rfe1 f6 23.Bc4 Nh5 24.Nhf1 Bd7 25.Bh4 Nf4 26.g3 Qh5 27.bxa6 bxa6 28.Bd5 Rb8 29.gxf4 Qxh4 30.Ng3 Ba7 31.Ndf1 Ke7 32.fxe5 fxe5 33.Nf5+ Bxf5 34.exf5 c6 35.Bg2 Nc4 36.Qd3 d5 37.Rxe5+ Nxe5 38.Re1 Kf7 39.Rxe5 Rb2 40.Re2 Rb6 41.f6 Bb8 42.Qf5 Bh2+ 43.Nxh2 Qxh2+ 44.Kf1 Rb7 45.Bxd5+ cxd5 46.Qxd5+ Kg6 47.Qe4+ Kxf6 48.Qc6+ Kg5 49.Re5+ Qxe5 50.dxe5 Rf7 51.e6 Rf6 52.Qd7 Rhf8 53.Qg7+ Kh4 54.e7 Rxf2+ 55.Ke1 Rf1+ 56.Ke2 R1f2+ 57.Ke3 R2f3+ 58.Ke4 Re8 59.Qh6+ Kg3 60.Qd6+ Kf2 61.Qd2+ Kg3 62.Qd6+ Kh3 63.Qd7 Rff8 64.c4 Kh4 65.Kd5 Rg8 66.Ke6 g3 67.Qd4+ Kh3 68.Qe3 Kh2 69.Qh6+ Kg1 70.Qe3+ Kh2 71.Qh6+ Kg1 72.Qe3+ 1/2-1/2

Position after Black’s 64…Kh4

Firouzja-So was insane, with both players missing countless winning chances!

Round 1, June 18
Svidler, Peter – MVL
C11 French, Steinitz, Boleslavsky variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 a6 8.a3 b5 9.Bd3 Qb6 10.Bf2 Bb7 11.O-O c4 12.Be2 g6 13.Qd2 Ne7 14.g4 h5 15.h3 Bg7 16.Kg2 f5 17.gxh5 Rxh5 18.b4 Rh8 19.a4 Bh6 20.Bh4 Nc6 21.a5 Qc7 22.Bg5 Bf8 23.Na2 Nd8 24.c3 Nf7 25.Rae1 Bg7 26.Bd1 Nf8 27.Nc1 Nh7 28.Ne2 Kd7 29.Rh1 Rag8 30.Ng3 Kc8 31.Bc2 Bc6 32.Kf2 Bf8 33.Reg1 Be7 34.h4 Nf8 35.Bd1 Qd8 36.Ke1 Be8 37.Qe3 Nd7 38.Kd2 Nb8 39.Kc1 Nc6 40.Bxe7 Qxe7 41.Qd2 Nfd8 42.Ng5 Nf7 43.Bf3 Kc7 44.Kb2 Ncd8 45.Nf1 Nc6 46.Ne3 Nxg5 47.fxg5 Bf7 48.Ng2 Rb8 49.Ra1 Rbg8 50.Nf4 Qe8 51.Rag1 Ne7 52.Rg3 Rg7 53.h5 gxh5 54.g6 Rxg6 55.Nxg6 Bxg6 56.Qf4 Qf8 57.Bd1 Kd7 58.Bc2 Ke8 59.Qg5 Bf7 60.Qf6 Rh6 61.Qh4 Nc6 62.Rhg1 Rh7 63.Bd1 Nxb4 64.cxb4 Qxb4+ 65.Kc1 c3 66.Bc2 Qxa5 67.Kd1 b4 68.Rg8+ Bxg8 69.Rxg8+ Kd7 70.Ke2 b3 71.Bxb3 Qb5+ 72.Kf2 Re7 73.Ra8 Qxb3 74.Ra7+ Kc6 75.Qxe7 Qc2+ 76.Kg3 Qd3+ 77.Kh4 Qxd4+ 78.Kg5 Qxe5 79.Rxa6+ Kb5 80.Rxe6 Qg3+ 81.Kh6 Qf4+ 82.Kh7 Kc4 83.Qb7 d4 84.Qa6+ Kb3 85.Qb5+ Kc2 86.Re2+ Qd2 87.Qa4+ Kd3 88.Rxd2+ cxd2 89.Qd1 1-0

Final Position

Round 1, June 18
Bacrot, Etienne – Rapport, Richard
B10 Caro-Kann, Two Knights variation

1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nh5 5.d4 g6 6.Ne2 Ng7 7.Ng3 h5 8.Bd3 Bg4 9.h3 Bxf3 10.Qxf3 e6 11.O-O h4 12.Ne2 Be7 13.g4 c5 14.dxc5 Nd7 15.Bb5 O-O 16.Bxd7 Qxd7 17.c3 Qc7 18.b4 Qxe5 19.Bf4 Qe4 20.Qxe4 dxe4 21.Rad1 Rfd8 22.Nd4 Bf6 23.c6 bxc6 24.Nxc6 Rxd1 25.Rxd1 Bxc3 26.b5 e5 27.Be3 Ne6 28.Bxa7 Bd4 29.Nxd4 Nxd4 30.Bxd4 exd4 31.Rxd4 Rxa2 32.Rb4 f5 33.b6 Ra8 34.b7 Rb8 35.g5 Kf7 36.f3 e3 37.Rxh4 Ke6 38.Rb4 Kd5 39.Kf1 Kc5 40.Rb1 f4 41.Ke2 Kc4 42.h4 Kc5 43.h5 gxh5 44.g6 Kc6 45.g7 Kc7 46.Rc1+ Kd7 47.Rc8 1-0

Round 2, June 18
So, Wesley – Rapport, Richard
E41 Nimzo-Indian

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c5 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.Ne2 cxd4 7.exd4 d5 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.O-O Nf6 10.Bc2 O-O 11.a3 Bxc3 12.bxc3 e5 13.Bg5 exd4 14.Nxd4 Nxd4 15.cxd4 h6 16.Bh4 Re8 17.Qd3 Bd7 18.d5 Rc8 19.d6 g5 20.Bg3 Ne4 21.Rae1 Rc3 22.Qd1 Nxg3 23.hxg3 Rxe1 24.Rxe1 Be6 25.Qd2 Rxa3 26.Rd1 Bd7 27.Qb4 Ra2 28.Qb3 Ra5 29.Qxb7 Kg7 30.Re1 Rc5 31.Qe4 Qf6 32.Qh7+ Kf8 33.Re7 Be8 34.Bg6 1-0

Round 2, June 18
Nepo – Bacrot, Etienne
B52 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.O-O Nf6 6.Re1 Nc6 7.c3 e6 8.d4 cxd4 9.cxd4 d5 10.e5 Ne4 11.Nbd2 Nxd2 12.Bxd2 a5 13.Rc1 a4 14.a3 Be7 15.h4 O-O 16.Rc3 Rfc8 17.Rd3 b5 18.Ng5 h6 19.Nh3 Kh8 20.Qg4 f5 21.Qg6 Bxh4 22.Qh5 Bd8 23.Bxh6 gxh6 24.Rg3 1-0

Round 2, June 18
MVL – Radjabov, Teimour
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 O-O 6.Nbd2 d6 7.O-O Bb6 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.h3 Ba6 10.Qc2 c5 11.Re1 h6 12.Nf1 Re8 13.Ng3 Qd7 14.Be3 c6 15.Rad1 Qe6 16.b3 Rad8 17.Nh4 d5 18.c4 Rd7 19.Nhf5 Red8 20.Qc1 Bb7 21.Bxh6 gxh6 22.Qxh6 Ne8 23.Qg5+ Kf8 24.Qh4 f6 25.Re3 Qg8 26.Qh6+ Kf7 27.Qh5+ Qg6 28.Nh6+ Kg7 29.Ngf5+ Kh7 30.Qe2 Rg7 31.Rg3 Qxh6 32.Nxh6 Kxh6 33.Rf1 Bc7 34.Qe3+ Kh7 35.Rxg7+ Kxg7 36.Qxc5 dxe4 37.Qxa7 Nd6 38.dxe4 Ra8 39.Qe3 Rxa2 40.Rd1 Ra8 41.c5 1-0

What is the prevailing feeling about playing tournament chess on your birthday? Should you win or lose?
Today is Firouzja’s eighteenth birthday

Round 3, June 18
Radjabov, Teimour – Firouzja, Alireza
D43 QGD, Semi-Slav

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.e3 Nd7 8.Rc1 g6 9.Bd3 Qe7 10.O-O Bg7 11.Qc2 O-O 12.Rfd1 dxc4 13.Bxc4 c5 14.d5 Nb6 15.b3 Nxc4 16.bxc4 b6 17.e4 exd5 18.Nxd5 Qb7 19.h3 Be6 20.Rd2 Rfe8 21.Rcd1 Rad8 22.Qa4 Bd7 23.Qc2 Bc6 24.Nh2 Kh8 25.Ng4 h5 26.Nh2 Rd7 27.Nf3 Qa6 28.Rb1 Qa4 29.Rb3 Bb7 30.e5 Ba6 31.Nf6 Rxd2 32.Qxd2 Rf8 33.Rd3 Bxc4 34.Rd8 Qc6 35.Rxf8+ Bxf8 36.Qd8 Kg7 37.Nd7 Bd6 38.Qf6+ Kg8 39.Qxd6 Qxd6 40.exd6 Bxa2 41.Nxb6 Kf8 42.Nd7+ Ke8 43.Nxc5 a5 44.Nd4 Bd5 45.f3 g5 46.Kf2 Kd8 47.Ke3 h4 48.Kd3 1-0

Round 3, June 18
Bacrot, Etienne – Aronian, Levon
E10 Queen’s Pawn game

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.e3 Be7 5.b3 O-O 6.Bd3 c5 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Bb2 cxd4 9.Nxd4 e5 10.Nc2 Nc6 11.Nc3 Nxc3 12.Bxc3 Bg4 13.f3 Bh4+ 14.Ke2 Be6 15.Nb4 Nxb4 16.Bxb4 Qg5 17.g3 Rfd8 18.e4 a5 19.Bc5 f5 20.gxh4 Qg2+ 21.Bf2 fxe4 22.Bxe4 Rxd1 23.Raxd1 Qh3 24.Rhg1 Bf7 25.Rg4 Bg6 26.Bxg6 hxg6 27.Rdg1 e4 28.Rxe4 Rf8 29.Rg3 Qc8 30.Kf1 Qc2 31.Reg4 Rf6 32.h5 Qxa2 33.Rxg6 Rxg6 34.Rxg6 Qxb3 35.Kg2 a4 36.h6 Kh7 37.Rxg7+ Kxh6 38.Rd7 a3 0-1

Standings after Day 1

1-4 Nepo, Aronian, So, Svidler 4
5-7 Caruana, Radjabov, MVL 3
8-9 Firouzja, Bacrot 2
10 Rapport 1
(Kramnik)

**Hans Jung** · Friday, 18th June, 2021, 06:55 PM

Some great entertainment. It was nice to see a crisp endgame win from Bacrot over Rapport before getting hammered by Nepo and Aronian. Bacrot is no slouch of a player but Nepo made him look like one.

**Hans Jung** · Saturday, 19th June, 2021, 10:25 AM

Bacrot gets a big scalp from MVL!

**Wayne Komer** · Saturday, 19th June, 2021, 10:45 PM

Paris Rapid & Blitz 2021

June 19, 2021

Rapid

Day 2

Round 4

So-Nepo 0.5-0.5
Aronian-Rapport 0.5-0.5
MVL-Bacrot 0-1
Firouzja-Caruana 0.5-0.5
Svidler-Radjabov 0.5-0.5

Round 5

Radjabov-So 0.5-0.5
Caruana-Svidler 1-0
Bacrot-Firouzja 0.5-0.5
Rapport-MVL 0.5-0.5
Nepo-Aronian 1-0

Round 6

So-Aronian 0.5-0.5
MVL-Nepo 1-0
Firouzja-Rapport 0.5-0.5
Svidler-Bacrot 0.5-0.5
Radjabov-Caruana 0.5-0.5

Selected Games

Round 4, June 19
MVL – Bacrot, Etienne
A01 Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack, Indian variation

1.b3 Nf6 2.Bb2 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 O-O 5.c4 d6 6.e3 Nc6 7.Ne2 e5 8.Nbc3 Be6 9.O-O Qd7 10.Nd5 Bh3 11.Bxh3 Qxh3 12.Nxf6+ Bxf6 13.f4 Bg7 14.f5 gxf5 15.Nc3 Ne7 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.cxd5 Rac8 18.Rc1 Qg4 19.Rc4 Qxd1 20.Rxd1 c5 21.Rf1 b5 22.Rh4 c4 23.b4 f4 24.gxf4 f5 25.Rh5 Rcd8 26.Bc3 Rd7 27.fxe5 dxe5 28.Rfxf5 Rxf5 29.Rxf5 Rxd5 30.Kf2 Rd3 31.Ke2 a6 32.Kd1 h6 33.Rf2 Rd7 34.Rf1 Kh7 35.Kc2 Kg6 36.a4 Bf6 37.axb5 axb5 38.Ra1 Rd6 39.Ra5 Rb6 40.Kd1 Kf5 41.Ke2 Kg4 42.Ra8 Kh3 43.Kf3 Kxh2 44.Rg8 h5 45.Rg6 Rd6 46.Ke4 Kh3 47.Kf5 Be7 48.Rg7 Bf8 49.Rg8 Bh6 50.Kxe5 Rd3 51.Ke4 Bxe3 52.dxe3 Rxc3 53.Rg5 h4 54.Rxb5 Rc1 55.Rg5 Kh2 56.Kd4 h3 57.b5 c3 58.b6 Rb1 59.Kxc3 Rxb6 60.Kd4 Rb4+ 61.Kd3 Rb2 62.Ke4 Rg2 63.Rh5 Kg3 64.Ke5 Ra2 65.Rh8 Ra5+ 66.Kf6 Ra4 67.Kf5 Rh4 68.Rg8+ Kf2 0-1

Round 4, June 19
Firouzja, Alireza – Caruana, Fabiano
C50 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 Nf6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 Be7 7.Bg3 d6 8.a4 O-O 9.Nbd2 Be6 10.Bxe6 fxe6 11.c3 a5 12.O-O Nd7 13.Nc4 Qe8 14.Re1 Qg6 15.d4 exd4 16.cxd4 Nb4 17.Qb3 b6 18.Rac1 Kh8 19.Na3 c5 20.Qd1 Rad8 21.Nb5 cxd4 22.Nxd6 Nc5 23.Ne5 Qf6 24.Ndc4 Kh7 25.h4 h5 26.Nxb6 d3 27.Re3 Qh6 28.Nbc4 g5 29.Nf3 gxh4 30.Bc7 Rc8 31.Bxa5 Nc2 32.Bd2 Qf6 33.Nfe5 Nxe3 34.Bxe3 Kg7 35.Qxh5 Rh8 36.Qg4+ Kh7 37.Nf3 Rcg8 38.Qh5+ Kg7 39.Qxh8+ Rxh8 40.Bd4 Nxe4 41.Bxf6+ Kxf6 42.Rd1 Rd8 43.Nce5 d2 44.Kf1 Rc8 45.Ng4+ Kg7 46.Nxd2 Nxd2+ 47.Rxd2 Rc4 48.Ne5 Rxa4 49.Rd7 Kf6 50.Nd3 Rc4 51.f4 Bf8 52.Ke2 Rc2+ 53.Kf3 Be7 54.Rb7 Bd6 55.Nf2 Bc7 56.Ng4+ Kg6 57.Ne3 Rc1 58.Kg4 Kf6 59.Rb4 Re1 60.Kf3 Rh1 61.Rb7 Rc1 62.b4 Rc3 63.Ke4 Bd6 64.Rb6 Ke7 65.f5 Rc1 66.f6+ Kd7 67.f7 Rc8 68.Ng4 Rc4+ 69.Ke3 Rxg4 70.Rxd6+ Ke7 71.Rd7+ Kf8 72.b5 Rb4 73.Rb7 e5 74.b6 e4 75.Kf4 Kg7 76.Ke3 Kf8 77.Kd2 Rb3 78.Ke2 e3 79.Kf3 Kg7 80.Kg4 e2 81.Re7 Rxb6 82.Rxe2 Rb4+ 83.Kh3 Kxf7 84.g3 hxg3 1/2-1/2

Position after White’s 73.Rb7

Round 5, June 19
Caruana, Fabiano – Svidler, Peter
B42 Sicilian, Kan, Polugaievsky variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 Bc5 6.Nb3 Be7 7.Qg4 g6 8.Qe2 d6 9.Be3 Nd7 10.N1d2 Ngf6 11.Bh6 Ne5 12.O-O Neg4 13.Bg7 Rg8 14.Bxf6 Nxf6 15.f4 e5 16.fxe5 dxe5 17.Nc4 Be6 18.Kh1 Qc7 19.Ne3 Kf8 20.c4 Kg7 21.Nd2 Rge8 22.Nd5 Bxd5 23.cxd5 Rac8 24.a4 Rf8 25.a5 Ne8 26.Nc4 Bc5 27.Qg4 Bd4 28.Ra2 Nd6 29.b3 Qe7 30.h4 h5 31.Qh3 Rc7 32.g4 hxg4 33.Qxg4 Rh8 34.Rh2 Rh5 35.Rh3 Qd7 36.Qg2 Rc8 37.Be2 Rch8 38.Bxh5 Rxh5 39.Nxd6 Qxd6 40.Qg4 Qd8 41.Kg2 Rh7 42.h5 Qxa5 43.Rxf7+ 1-0

Round 5, June 19
Nepo – Aronian, Levon
A13 English, Neo-Catalan

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 dxc4 5.Qa4+ Bd7 6.Qxc4 c5 7.Ne5 Qc8 8.b3 Nc6 9.Nxd7 Qxd7 10.Bb2 Be7 11.O-O Rc8 12.Rd1 O-O 13.Nc3 a6 14.Rac1 b5 15.Qf4 h6 16.d3 Rfd8 17.Qd2 Qa7 18.e3 Qb6 19.Qe2 Nb4 20.a3 Nbd5 21.Nxd5 Nxd5 22.d4 Nf6 23.dxc5 Rxd1+ 24.Rxd1 Bxc5 25.Bxf6 gxf6 26.Qh5 Bxa3 27.Rd7 Rf8 28.Be4 f5 29.Qxh6 fxe4 30.Rd5 Qxe3 31.Qxe3 exd5 32.Qg5+ Kh8 33.Qxd5 f5 34.Qd4+ Kg8 35.b4 Bc1 36.Qb6 Rf7 37.Qxa6 e3 38.Qc8+ 1-0

Round 6, June 19
MVL - Nepo
C02 French, Advance, Euwe variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7 6.Be2 Nge7 7.h4 f6 8.h5 Qb6 9.g4 Ng8 10.Na3 cxd4 11.cxd4 fxe5 12.dxe5 Bc5 13.Nb5 Nxe5 14.Nxe5 Bxb5 15.O-O Nf6 16.Bxb5+ Qxb5 17.g5 Ne4 18.Qg4 Qb6 19.g6 O-O-O 20.Bf4 hxg6 21.Rac1 gxh5 22.Qg6 Rhf8 23.Bh2 Rf6 24.Qxg7 Rxf2 25.Rxf2 Nxf2 26.Nd7 1-0

Final Position

With the stunning 26.Nd7!! MVL is crushing Nepo!

Standings at the end of Day Two

1-3 Caruana, Nepo, So 7
4-8 Aronian, Radjabov, MVL, Svidler, Bacrot 6
9 Firouzja 5
10 Rapport 4

**Hans Jung** · Sunday, 20th June, 2021, 12:03 PM

Both Fabulous Fabi and Peter Svidler have had rough wakeups today. Etienne Bacrot had another great endgame scalp against Fabi.
Wesley So seems to be dominating in his games. Very sharp play.

**Wayne Komer** · Sunday, 20th June, 2021, 01:16 PM

Paris Rapid & Blitz 2021

June 20, 2021

Rapid

Day 3

Round 7

Caruana-So 0-1
Bacrot-Radjabov 0.5-0.5
Rapport-Svidler 1-0
Nepo-Firouzja 0.5-0.5
Aronian-MVL 0.5-0.5

Round 8

So-MVL 1-0
Firouzja-Aronian 0.5-0.5
Svidler-Nepo 0.5-0.5
Radjabov-Rapport 0.5-0.5
Caruana-Bacrot 0-1

Round 9

Bacrot-So 0.5-0.5
Rapport-Caruana 0.5-0.5
Nepo-Radjabov 1-0
Aronian-Svidler 0-1
MVL-Firouzja 1-0

Standings after Rapid Day Three

1 So 12
2 Nepo 11
3 Bacrot 10
4-5 MVL, Svidler 9
6-9 Caruana, Aronian, Radjabov, Rapport 8
10 Firouzja 7

Selected Games

Round 7, June 20
Caruana, Fabiano – So, Wesley
C67 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence, open variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.Re1 Nd6 6.Nxe5 Be7 7.Bf1 Nxe5 8.Rxe5 O-O 9.d4 Bf6 10.Re1 Re8 11.Nc3 Rxe1 12.Qxe1 Bxd4 13.Bf4 Ne8 14.Nd5 d6 15.Bg5 f6 16.Bh4 g5 17.Qe4 Bxb2 18.Rb1 Be5 19.f4 gxh4 20.fxe5 dxe5 21.Bc4 Be6 22.Rxb7 Kh8 23.Bd3 Bg8 24.Nxc7 Nd6 25.Qxh4 Nxb7 26.Nxa8 Nc5 27.Bf5 e4 28.h3 Qd4+ 29.Kh1 Qa1+ 0-1

Round 7, June 20
Rapport, Richard – Svidler, Peter
E60 King’s Indian Defence

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.h4 c5 4.d5 b5 5.cxb5 a6 6.e3 Bg7 7.Nc3 O-O 8.a4 Bb7 9.Nf3 e6 10.dxe6 fxe6 11.Qd6 axb5 12.Bxb5 Ne4 13.Nxe4 Bxe4 14.h5 Qf6 15.h6 Bh8 16.Rh4 Bxf3 17.Rf4 Qd8 18.Bxd7 1-0

Round 8, June 20
So, Wesley – MVL
D85 Grunfeld, Modern Exchange variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.h3 O-O 9.Be2 Nc6 10.Be3 cxd4 11.cxd4 f5 12.Bc4+ Kh8 13.O-O f4 14.Bd2 Nxd4 15.Bc3 Nxf3+ 16.Qxf3 Bd7 17.Rfd1 Qc7 18.Rac1 Rad8 19.Bb4 Bc6 20.Bd5 Qe5 21.Rc5 Bxd5 22.exd5 Rd7 23.d6 Qe6 24.dxe7 Rxd1+ 25.Qxd1 Qxe7 26.Rc4 Rd8 27.Rc8 1-0

Round 8, June 20
Firouzja, Alireza – Aronian, Levon
C50 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 Nf6 5.Bg5 d6 6.c3 h6 7.Bh4 a6 8.a4 Ba7 9.Nbd2 O-O 10.O-O g5 11.Bg3 Na5 12.Ba2 Nh5 13.d4 Nxg3 14.hxg3 Nc6 15.Nc4 g4 16.Nh4 exd4 17.Rc1 b5 18.Na3 dxc3 19.Bd5 Bd7 20.Nf5 Ne5 21.Bxa8 cxb2 22.Rb1 Qxa8 23.Ne7+ Kg7 24.Nd5 Bc5 25.Nc2 bxa4 26.Rxb2 a3 27.Ra2 Bb5 28.Nxc7 Qxe4 29.Nxb5 axb5 30.Nxa3 b4 31.Nb1 h5 32.Nd2 Qg6 33.Nb3 Bb6 34.Ra4 Rb8 35.Kh1 h4 36.Kh2 Rh8 37.gxh4 Rxh4+ 38.Kg3 Rh5 39.Rxb4 Qf6 40.Rxb6 Ng6 41.Qd4 Ne5 42.Rxd6 Qh4+ 43.Kf4 Qh2+ 44.Ke3 Qxg2 45.Nd2 g3 46.Qe4 Qh3 47.fxg3 Ng4+ 48.Kd3 Qxg3+ 49.Nf3 Qxd6+ 50.Qd4+ Ne5+ 51.Nxe5 Qxe5 52.Rg1+ Kh6 53.Qe3+ Rg5 54.Qxe5 Rxe5 55.Kd4 f6 56.Rg2 Re6 57.Rh2+ Kg5 58.Rg2+ Kf4 59.Rf2+ Kg4 60.Kd5 Ra6 61.Rf1 f5 62.Rg1+ Kf4 63.Rf1+ Kg5 64.Rg1+ Kf6 65.Kd4 Re6 66.Rf1 Re8 67.Kd3 Re4 68.Rh1 Re7 69.Rf1 Re8 70.Kd4 Re4+ 71.Kd3 Ke5 72.Rh1 Kf4 73.Rf1+ Kg5 74.Rg1+ Rg4 75.Rf1 Re4 76.Rg1+ Kf6 77.Rf1 Re5 78.Kd4 Re8 79.Kd3 Re4 80.Rh1 Ke6 81.Rh8 Kf6 82.Rh1 Re5 83.Kd4 Re2 84.Kd3 Re7 85.Rf1 Kg5 86.Rg1+ Kf4 87.Rf1+ Kg4 88.Rg1+ Kh3 89.Rf1 Re5 90.Kd4 Re4+ 91.Kd3 Re5 92.Kd4 Ra5 93.Ke3 Kg2 94.Rf2+ Kg3 95.Rf3+ Kg4 96.Rf4+ Kg5 97.Rb4 f4+ 98.Kf2 Ra2+ 99.Kf3 Ra3+ 100.Kf2 Kg4 101.Rb2 Ra8 102.Kg2 Ra1 103.Rb3 Ra2+ 104.Kf1 Rd2 105.Ra3 Kf5 106.Ra5+ Ke4 107.Ra3 Rb2 108.Rc3 Rb1+ 109.Kf2 Rh1 110.Rc4+ Kf5 111.Rc5+ Kg4 112.Rc3 Rh2+ 113.Kf1 Rd2 114.Ra3 Rh2 115.Rb3 Rh3 116.Rxh3 Kxh3 117.Kf2 Kg4 118.Kg2 f3+ 119.Kf2 Kf4 120.Kf1 Kg3 121.Kg1 f2+ 122.Kf1 Kf3 1/2-1/2

Alireza Firouzja spent over 7 minutes on 20.Nf5?! (20.Rxc3!), but the exchange sacrifice 20...Ne5! leaves Levon Aronian on top!

Just when Firouzja had fought his way back into the game, 35.Kh1? allowed 35...h4! (with Rh8 to follow) and Aronian is winning!

Incredible - Levon Aronian blunders in a winning position and Firouzja is about to pick up his 1st win!

Of course that wasn't the end of the story as with under 5 seconds on his clock Alireza blundered back!

A 3-fold repetition claim that wasn't even close, gives Aronian an extra 2 minutes to torture Firouzja in this ending

Alireza survives, and in the end a 122-move draw was a fair result, as both players should have won... and lost!

Round 8, June 20
Caruana, Fabiano – Bacrot, Etienne
B67 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.O-O-O Bd7 9.f3 Nxd4 10.Qxd4 Be7 11.Kb1 Rc8 12.h4 h6 13.Be3 h5 14.Qd2 b5 15.Ne2 Qc7 16.Bg5 a5 17.Nd4 Rb8 18.Bd3 b4 19.f4 a4 20.Rhe1 Qc5 21.Nf3 Bc6 22.e5 Bxf3 23.exf6 Bxd1 24.fxg7 Rg8 25.Qxd1 Rxg7 26.Qxh5 Qd4 27.Qd1 Bf6 28.Bxf6 Qxf6 29.Qf3 Kf8 30.Qc6 Qd4 31.Qxa4 Rxg2 32.a3 Rg1 33.Rxg1 Qxg1+ 34.Ka2 bxa3 35.b3 Qc1 36.Qd4 Qb2+ 37.Qxb2 axb2 38.Kxb2 Ke7 39.h5 Rg8 40.b4 Rg4 41.f5 Rxb4+ 42.Kc3 Rh4 43.fxe6 Kxe6 44.Be2 Ke5 45.Kd3 Rh3+ 46.Kd2 Kf4 47.Bc4 f5 48.Bf7 Ke5 49.Bg6 Kf4 50.Ke2 Rh2+ 51.Kd3 Kg4 52.Kd4 f4 53.Kd5 f3 54.Bd3 Kxh5 55.Kxd6 Rd2 0-1

Bacrot defeats Caruana and Etienne is up to joint 2nd before his tournament ends (he's replaced by Vladimir Kramnik for the blitz tomorrow!)

Round 9, June 20
Nepo – Radjabov, Teimour
C67 Ruy Lopez, open Berlin Defence, Showalter variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Ba4 exd4 7.c3 Be7 8.cxd4 b5 9.Bb3 O-O 10.Nc3 Bb7 11.Re1 Bf6 12.Bf4 Na5 13.Bc2 b4 14.Na4 g6 15.Ne5 Nb5 16.Nc5 d6 17.Nxb7 Nxb7 18.Nc6 Qd7 19.Nxb4 Nxd4 20.Nd5 Bg7 21.Re7 Qd8 22.Bg5 Kh8 23.Bxg6 fxg6 24.h4 Qxe7 25.Nxe7 Rae8 26.Be3 c5 27.Nd5 Re5 28.Nc3 Nd8 29.Qd2 N8e6 30.Bh6 Bxh6 31.Qxh6 Rf4 32.g3 Rf7 33.Qc1 Ref5 34.f4 h6 35.Qd1 g5 36.hxg5 hxg5 37.Ne4 Rh7 38.Nxd6 Rf6 39.f5 Rfh6 40.Kf2 Rh2+ 41.Ke3 Nc2+ 42.Ke4 Ned4 43.f6 Re2+ 44.Kd3 Nxa1 45.Qxa1 Re6 46.Ne4 Nf5 47.Qc1 Rd7+ 48.Kc3 Nd6 49.Qh1+ Kg8 50.Nxg5 Rxf6 51.Qd5+ Kf8 52.Qe5 Ne8 53.Ne6+ Kf7 54.Nxc5 Re7 55.Qd5+ Kg7 56.Qg5+ Kf7 57.Qd5+ Kg7 58.b3 Nd6 59.Kb4 Nf7 60.Ka3 Rd6 61.Qc4 Rg6 62.Qd4+ Kg8 63.Ne4 Ree6 64.g4 Kh7 65.Kb2 Rb6 66.Qd7 Kg7 67.Qxa7 Rge6 68.Ng5 Re2+ 69.Ka3 Rf6 70.Nxf7 Rxf7 71.Qd4+ Kg8 72.Qc4 Re5 73.b4 Kg7 74.Qd4 Re7 75.Kb3 Kg6 76.a3 Kg5 77.Ka4 Re4 78.Qb6 R4e6 79.Qf2 Kxg4 80.b5 Re3 81.Qg1+ Kf4 82.Qh2+ Kf5 83.Qh5+ Kf4 84.Qc5 R7e5 85.Qf8+ Ke4 86.Ka5 Rf3 87.Qb4+ Kf5 88.a4 Rfe3 89.Ka6 Re8 90.b6 R3e4 91.Qb5+ 1-0

Round 9, June 20
Rapport, Richard – Caruana, Fabiano
A08 Reti, King’s Indian Attack

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.O-O e6 5.d3 Nc6 6.Na3 e5 7.e4 d4 8.Nc4 Qc7 9.a4 Be6 10.b3 O-O-O 11.Ng5 Bxc4 12.bxc4 Bd6 13.f4 Kb8 14.Rb1 h6 15.Nf3 h5 16.Nh4 Ng4 17.Nf5 g6 18.Nxd6 Rxd6 19.Qe2 f6 20.h3 Ne3 21.Bxe3 dxe3 22.Qxe3 Nb4 23.fxe5 fxe5 24.Rf2 Rhd8 25.Qg5 Nc6 26.h4 a6 27.Qd2 Ka7 28.Kh2 Nd4 29.Qg5 Nc6 30.Bh3 Qa5 31.Qh6 Qc7 32.Rbf1 Qb6 33.Rf7 Qb2 34.R1f2 Nd4 35.Qg7 Nxc2 36.d4 cxd4 37.c5 Rc6 38.Rc7 Rg8 39.Qd7 Rxc7 40.Qxc7 d3 41.Be6 Rb8 42.Bd5 Qb4 43.Kh3 Qb1 44.a5 Qh1+ 45.Rh2 Qf1+ 46.Rg2 d2 47.Qb6+ Ka8 48.c6 Qh1+ 49.Rh2 Qf1+ 50.Rg2 Qh1+ 51.Rh2 Qf1+ 1/2-1/2

36.d4!, with 5 ways Black can capture, and Rapport is winning his 2nd game today, while Caruana will have lost all 3 games!

In the end Fabiano Caruana survives - and for one move he might even have won!

Round 9, June 20
Aronian, Levon – Svidler, Peter
E60 KID/Neo-Grunfeld

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 O-O 5.Bg2 c6 6.Nc3 d5 7.Qb3 dxc4 8.Qxc4 Bf5 9.O-O Nbd7 10.Re1 Ne4 11.Nh4 Be6 12.Qd3 Nxc3 13.bxc3 Qa5 14.a4 Nc5 15.Qd1 Qxc3 16.Ba3 Bxd4 17.Rb1 Bxf2+ 18.Kxf2 Qxa3 19.Qc1 Qxc1 20.Rexc1 Nb3 21.Rc3 Na5 22.Nf3 Rfd8 23.Ne5 Rac8 24.Rc5 b6 25.Rxa5 bxa5 26.Nxc6 Rd7 27.Rb5 Rdc7 28.Nd4 Rc5 29.Rb7 R8c7 30.Rb8+ Kg7 31.Nxe6+ fxe6 32.Bh3 Rc4 33.Bxe6 Rxa4 34.Rb5 Kf6 35.Bh3 Rc6 36.Bg2 Ra6 37.Rb8 Rb4 38.Rf8+ Kg7 39.Re8 a4 40.Bd5 a3 41.Ba2 Rb2 42.Rxe7+ Kf8 0-1

Svidler spots 14...Nc5! and Aronian's rocky day continues

Round 9, June 20
MVL – Firouzja, Alireza
C70 Ruy Lopez, Taimanov

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 b5 5.Bb3 Na5 6.d4 exd4 7.Nxd4 Bb7 8.O-O c5 9.Nf5 c4 10.Bf4 cxb3 11.axb3 Nc6 12.Nc3 g6 13.Nd6+ Bxd6 14.Bxd6 Nge7 15.Nd5 O-O 16.Bc7 Qc8 17.Nf6+ Kg7 18.Qd6 Ra7 19.Rad1 Ng8 20.Nxd7 Re8 21.Bb6 Ra8 22.Qd3 f6 23.f4 Nb4 24.Qd2 Qxc2 25.Qxb4 Rxe4 26.Qc3 Re2 27.Qxc2 Rxc2 28.Rf2 Rxf2 29.Kxf2 Kf7 30.Nc5 Bc6 31.Rd6 Ne7 32.Ne6 Rc8 33.g4 Bd5 34.Nc7 Bxb3 35.Ba5 h5 36.g5 fxg5 37.fxg5 Bc2 38.Rxa6 b4 39.Rf6+ Kg8 40.Re6 Kf7 41.Rd6 b3 42.Bb6 Bf5 43.h4 Bc2 44.Ke1 Bf5 45.Kd2 Rb8 46.Bc5 Rc8 47.Bb6 Rb8 48.Kc3 Rb7 49.Kc4 Bc2 50.Rf6+ Kg8 51.Ne6 Rxb6 52.Rf8+ Kh7 53.Rf7+ Kg8 54.Rg7+ Kh8 55.Rxe7 Ra6 56.Kd5 Ra1 57.Rf7 Bf5 58.Nd4 Bc2 59.Ke5 Ra5+ 60.Kf6 Ra6+ 61.Ne6 Bf5 62.Re7 Kg8 63.Re8+ Kh7 64.Kf7 Bxe6+ 65.Rxe6 Ra4 66.Re7 Rf4+ 67.Ke6+ Kg8 68.Rb7 Rxh4 69.Kf6 Rd4 70.Kxg6 Rd6+ 71.Kxh5 Rd3 72.Kh6 Rh3+ 73.Kg6 Kf8 74.Rb8+ Ke7 75.Kg7 Rg3 76.g6 Ke6 77.Rb6+ 1-0

Nine rounds of blitz tomorrow

**Hans Jung** · Monday, 21st June, 2021, 09:50 AM

Thanks to Fab Fabi (from the fans) for giving Radjabov the king hunt.

**Wayne Komer** · Monday, 21st June, 2021, 03:59 PM

Paris Rapid & Blitz 2021

June 21, 2021

Blitz

Day 1

Rounds 10 to 18

Round 10 (B1)

Nepo-Rapport 0.5-0.5
Caruana-So 0.5-0.5
Radjabov-Firouzja 0-1
MVL-Kramnik 1-0
Svidler-Aronian 0-1

Round 11 (B2)

Rapport-Aronian 0.5-0.5
Kramnik-Svidler 1-0
Firouzja-MVL 1-0
So-Radjabov 1-0
Nepo-Caruana 1-0

Round 12 (B3)

Caruana-Rapport 0.5-0.5
Radjabov-Nepo 0-1
MVL-So 0-1
Svidler-Firouzja 0.5-0.5
Aronian-Kramnik 0.5-0.5

Round 13 (B4)

Rapport-Kramnik 1-0
Firouzja-Aronian 1-0
So-Svidler 0.5-0.5
Nepo-MVL 0.5-0.5
Caruana-Radjabov 0-1

Round 14 (B5)

Radjabov-Rapport 0.5-0.5
MVL-Caruana 1-0
Svidler-Nepo 0.5-0.5
Aronian-So 1-0
Kramnik-Firouzja 0-1

Round 15 (B6)

Rapport-Firouzja 0-1
So-Kramnik 0.5-0.5
Nepo-Aronian 1-0
Caruana-Svidler 0.5-0.5
Radjabov-MVL 0.5-0.5

Round 16 (B7)

MVL-Rapport 0.5-0.5
Svidler-Radjabov 1-0
Aronian-Caruana 0.5-0.5
Kramnik-Nepo 0-1
Firouzja-So 0-1

Round 17 (B8)

Rapport-So 0.5-0.5
Nepo-Firouzja 0-1
Caruana-Kramnik 0.5-0.5
Radjabov-Aronian 0-1
MVL-Svidler 0-1

Round 18 (B9)

Svidler-Rapport 1-0
Aronian-MVL 0-1
Kramnik-Radjabov 0-1
Firouzja-Caruana 0-1
So-Nepo 0.5-0.5

Standings at the end of Day 1 Blitz

1 So 17.5
2 Nepo 17
3 Svidler 14
4-5 MVL, Firouzja 13.5
6 Aronian 12.5
7 Rapport 12
8 Caruana 11.5
9 Radjabov 11
10 Bacrot 10
11 Kramnik 2.5

Selected Games

Round 10, June 21
Radjabov, Teimour – Firouzja, Alireza
D24 QGA

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e4 b5 6.e5 Nd5 7.Nxb5 Nb6 8.Nc3 Be7 9.Be2 Nc6 10.O-O Bb7 11.Be3 Qd7 12.Rc1 g5 13.Bxg5 Rg8 14.Bxe7 Nxe7 15.Ne1 O-O-O 16.Bf3 Qxd4 17.Bxb7+ Kxb7 18.Qf3+ Nc6 19.Nc2 Qd3 20.Ne3 Nd5 21.Ne4 Nd4 22.Nc5+ Kb6 23.Qxd5 exd5 24.Nxd3 cxd3 25.Rcd1 Nf3+ 26.Kh1 Nxe5 27.f4 d4 28.Nf5 Ng4 29.Rxd3 c5 30.h3 Nf6 31.Rc1 Ne4 32.Kh2 a5 33.a3 a4 34.b3 axb3 35.Rxb3+ Kc7 36.a4 d3 37.Ne3 Rd4 38.a5 Ra8 39.Rcb1 Ra7 40.a6 Nd6 41.Rc3 c4 42.Rb4 d2 43.Nxc4 d1=Q 44.Ne5+ Kd8 45.Nc6+ Kd7 46.Rxd4 Qa1 47.Rdd3 Rxa6 48.Nb8+ Ke6 49.Nxa6 Qxa6 50.Re3+ Kf6 51.Rc5 Nf5 52.Ree5 Nd4 53.Rh5 Qe2 54.Kg3 Qe3+ 55.Kg4 Ne6 56.Rcf5+ Kg7 57.g3 Qe1 0-1

Round 11, June 21
Kramnik, Vladimir – Svidler, Peter
B90 Sicilian, Najdorf, Lipnitzky Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Be3 Qc7 8.Bb3 Nbd7 9.f3 h5 10.a3 Ne5 11.Qe2 Bd7 12.f4 Neg4 13.O-O-O Nxe3 14.Qxe3 g6 15.Kb1 Bh6 16.Qf3 Rc8 17.f5 gxf5 18.exf5 e5 19.Ne6 Qc6 20.Nd5 Nxd5 21.Bxd5 Qxc2+ 22.Ka1 Rg8 23.Qxh5 Bc6 24.Nd4 1-0

Round 11, June 21
Firouzja, Alireza – MVL
B40 Sicilian, Anderssen variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Be2 a6 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.e5 Nd5 9.Ne4 Qc7 10.Nd6+ Bxd6 11.exd6 Qb6 12.c4 Nf6 13.O-O c5 14.Be3 Ne4 15.Bf3 Bb7 16.b4 Qxd6 17.Bxe4 Qxd1 18.Bxb7 Qa4 19.Bxa8 cxb4 20.Rfd1 O-O 21.Bf3 Rc8 22.c5 a5 23.h3 f6 24.Rd2 Rc7 25.Rad1 h6 26.Bh5 Kf8 27.Bf4 Ra7 28.Bb8 Rb7 29.Bd6+ Kg8 30.Be8 b3 31.axb3 Qxb3 32.Be7 a4 33.Bxd7 a3 34.c6 Ra7 35.Bc5 Ra5 36.Bxa3 1-0

Round 11, June 21
Nepo-Caruana
C55 Two Knights Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 h6 5.Nc3 Bc5 6.h3 d6 7.Na4 Bb6 8.a3 Be6 9.Bxe6 fxe6 10.b4 O-O 11.O-O Qe8 12.c4 Nd4 13.Nxb6 Nxf3+ 14.Qxf3 axb6 15.Qe2 Qg6 16.Ra2 Nh5 17.Qg4 Kh7 18.Qxg6+ Kxg6 19.a4 Nf6 20.Be3 Nd7 21.Rfa1 Nb8 22.a5 bxa5 23.Rxa5 Rxa5 24.Rxa5 Na6 25.b5 Nb4 26.Ra3 c5 27.Bd2 Nc2 28.Ra7 Rf7 29.f3 Rd7 30.Kf2 Kf6 31.Ra2 Nd4 32.Bc3 d5 33.Ra8 dxc4 34.dxc4 b6 35.Ra6 Rb7 36.Ke3 g5 37.Kd3 h5 38.Be1 h4 39.Bf2 Kf7 40.Be3 Kf6 41.Bd2 Nb3 42.Bc3 Nd4 43.Ra8 Rd7 44.Ke3 Rb7 45.Kf2 Nb3 46.Ra3 Nd4 47.Bd2 Rd7 48.Bc1 Rd8 49.Ra6 Rb8 50.Ra7 Kg6 51.Be3 Kf6 52.g3 Kg6 53.Ra6 Rb7 54.Ra8 Rf7 55.Bxd4 cxd4 56.gxh4 gxh4 57.Rb8 Rc7 58.Rxb6 Rxc4 59.Rxe6+ Kf7 60.Rxe5 Rc2+ 61.Kf1 Rc3 62.Ke2 Rc2+ 63.Kd3 Rc3+ 64.Kxd4 1-0

Round 12, June 21
MVL – So, Wesley
A06 Reti Opening

1.Nf3 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.b3 Be7 5.Bb2 O-O 6.d4 c5 7.Bd3 cxd4 8.exd4 b6 9.O-O Bb7 10.Nc3 Nbd7 11.Re1 Rc8 12.Rc1 Re8 13.Qe2 Nf8 14.Ne5 Ng6 15.g3 Bf8 16.Red1 Qe7 17.h4 dxc4 18.bxc4 Nxe5 19.dxe5 Nd7 20.Nb5 Nc5 21.Nd6 Ba8 22.Bb1 Qc7 23.Nxe8 Rxe8 24.f3 Na4 25.Bd4 Nc5 26.Kg2 g6 27.h5 Bh6 28.Rc3 Bg7 29.hxg6 hxg6 30.Qe3 Rd8 31.Rcc1 Rc8 32.Kf2 Nd7 33.Re1 Nc5 34.Bxc5 bxc5 35.f4 Qa5 36.Re2 Rd8 37.Be4 Bxe4 38.Qxe4 Rd4 39.Qf3 Bh6 40.Kg2 Kg7 41.Rb1 Qd8 42.Rb7 Rxc4 43.Rxa7 Rb4 44.a4 Rb1 45.Rf2 c4 46.Kh2 Qd4 47.Rc7 Rb3 48.Qg2 c3 49.a5 Ra3 50.Rc2 Ra1 51.R7xc3 Bxf4 52.Rc4 Bxg3+ 53.Qxg3 Qd1 54.Qg2 Qh5+ 55.Kg3 Qxe5+ 56.Kf2 Qe1+ 57.Kf3 Ra3+ 58.Kg4 f5+ 59.Kg5 Rg3+ 60.Rg4 Rxg4+ 61.Qxg4 fxg4 62.Rc7+ Kf8 0-1

Round 13, June 21
Rapport, Richard – Kramnik, Vladimir
A05 Reti, King’s Indian Attack, Spassky’s variation

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 b5 3.d4 e6 4.Bg5 Bb7 5.Nbd2 Be7 6.e3 a6 7.Nb3 d6 8.Na5 Be4 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.cxd3 c5 11.Qd2 O-O 12.Rc1 Qb6 13.O-O Nbd7 14.Rc2 Bd8 15.Bxf6 Nxf6 16.Nb3 Qb7 17.Qe2 cxd4 18.Nfxd4 Bb6 19.Rfc1 Nd5 20.Nc6 f5 21.Qf3 Qd7 22.a3 Kh8 23.Nb4 Ne7 24.Nc6 Ng6 25.d4 e5 26.dxe5 dxe5 27.Rd2 Qf7 28.Qd5 Qxd5 29.Rxd5 f4 30.Rc3 fxe3 31.fxe3 Rac8 32.Rd6 Rf6 33.Rxf6 gxf6 34.Kg2 Bxe3 35.Kf3 Bg1 36.h4 Kg7 37.h5 Nf8 38.Kg2 Bb6 39.Nd2 Ne6 40.Ne4 Rc7 41.Nd6 Kf8 42.Nf5 Kf7 1-0

Round 13, June 21
Firouzja, Alireza – Aronian, Levon
A45 Trompovsky Attack

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.e3 c5 4.Bxf6 gxf6 5.dxc5 e6 6.c4 dxc4 7.Nd2 Nd7 8.Ngf3 Nxc5 9.Bxc4 Bg7 10.O-O O-O 11.Qc2 Bd7 12.a4 f5 13.Nd4 a5 14.b3 Rc8 15.Rac1 f4 16.N2f3 fxe3 17.fxe3 Qf6 18.Ne2 Qb2 19.Qd1 Rfd8 20.Nfd4 Ne4 21.Rc2 Qa3 22.Nf4 e5 23.Bxf7+ Kxf7 24.Nfe6+ Kg8 25.Nxd8 exd4 26.Rxc8 Bxc8 27.Qh5 Nd6 28.Qd5+ Kh8 29.Qxd6 Qxd6 30.Nf7+ Kg8 31.Nxd6 Be6 32.exd4 Bxd4+ 33.Kh1 b6 34.Nc4 Kg7 35.Rd1 Bc5 36.Nxb6 Bxb3 37.Rb1 Be6 38.Rb5 Bb4 39.Nd5 Bd2 40.Ne7 Bc4 41.Rc5 Bb3 42.Nc6 Bxa4 43.Nxa5 Be3 44.Re5 Bb6 45.Nc4 Bd8 46.Nd6 Bb6 47.Re6 Bc5 48.Ne4 Bf8 49.h3 Bb3 50.Rb6 Bd5 51.Ng3 Bc4 52.Nf5+ Kg8 53.Kh2 Bd3 54.g4 Bc5 55.Rc6 Bf2 56.Kg2 Be4+ 57.Kxf2 1-0

The king hunt

Round 13, June 21
Caruana, Fabiano – Radjabov, Teimour
E60 King’s Indian

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.e3 O-O 5.Be2 d6 6.O-O Nbd7 7.Nc3 e5 8.Qc2 Re8 9.Rd1 Qe7 10.b4 e4 11.Nd2 Nf8 12.Bb2 Bf5 13.h3 h5 14.Nb3 g5 15.d5 Bg6 16.c5 N8d7 17.Nb5 Rec8 18.Na5 a6 19.c6 bxc6 20.Nxc6 Qe8 21.Nba7 g4 22.Nxc8 Rxc8 23.hxg4 hxg4 24.Bxa6 Ra8 25.Bb7 g3 26.fxg3 Ng4 27.Bxg7 Kxg7 28.Qc3+ Ndf6 29.Kf1 Qh8 30.Ke2 Qh2 31.Rd2 Bh5 32.Kd1 Ra3 33.Qxa3 Nxe3+ 34.Kc1 Qg1+ 35.Kb2 Nc4+ 36.Kc3 Qe3+ 37.Kxc4 Qxa3 38.Nd4 Bg6 39.Nb3 Nd7 40.Kb5 e3 41.Rd4 Ne5 42.Re1 Bf5 43.Rxe3 Bd7+ 44.Bc6 Bc8 45.Na5 0-1

(to be continued)

**Wayne Komer** · Monday, 21st June, 2021, 04:00 PM

Paris Rapid & Blitz 2021

June 21, 2021

Blitz

Day 1 (continued)

Rounds 14 to 18

Round 14, June 21
MVL – Caruana, Fabiano
C78 Ruy Lopez, Moeller Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Bc5 6.c3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.a4 Bg4 9.h3 Bh5 10.d3 O-O 11.Nbd2 b4 12.Re1 Rb8 13.Bc2 Re8 14.Nf1 d5 15.Ng3 Bg6 16.a5 bxc3 17.bxc3 Na7 18.Ba4 c6 19.Qc2 dxe4 20.dxe4 Nb5 21.Bg5 h6 22.Bh4 Qe7 23.Rad1 Qe6 24.Re2 Na3 25.Qd3 Nb5 26.Rb2 Qe7 27.Rbd2 Qe6 28.Kh2 Nh5 29.Nxh5 Bxh5 30.g4 Bg6 31.Bg3 f6 32.Nh4 Bf7 33.Nf5 Kh7 34.Qf3 Rb7 35.Bc2 Na3 36.Bd3 Nb5 37.Be2 Rc7 38.h4 Qb3 39.Rd7 Rec8 40.g5 Nxc3 41.R7d3 Bb4 42.Nxg7 Kxg7 43.Qxf6+ Kf8 44.Bxe5 Qe6 45.Qg7+ Ke8 46.Bxc7 Be7 47.Qh8+ Bg8 48.Qxc3 Rxc7 49.Bh5+ Kf8 50.Rf3+ 1-0

Round 14, June 21
Kramnik, Vladimir – Firouzja, Alireza
B90 Sicilian, Najdorf

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.a4 g6 7.Be2 Bg7 8.O-O O-O 9.Be3 Nc6 10.Qd2 Bd7 11.Rfd1 Rc8 12.f3 Re8 13.Bf1 Ne5 14.b3 Qa5 15.Nce2 Qxd2 16.Bxd2 d5 17.exd5 Nxd5 18.c4 Nf6 19.a5 Nd3 20.Bc3 Nc5 21.b4 Na4 22.c5 Nd5 23.Bd2 Nb2 24.Rdb1 Nc4 25.Ra2 e5 26.Nb3 Bf5 27.Rd1 Nxd2 28.Raxd2 Nxb4 29.Ng3 Be6 30.Rb1 f5 31.Nc1 Bh6 32.Rd6 Be3+ 33.Kh1 Bxc5 34.Rxe6 Rxe6 35.Bc4 Kf7 36.Nce2 Be7 37.Bxe6+ Kxe6 38.h3 Rc2 39.Re1 Kf7 40.Nc1 Bh4 41.Nce2 f4 42.Rb1 Bxg3 0-1

Round 15, June 21
Rapport, Richard – Firouzja, Alireza
A30 English, symmetrical

1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.g3 d6 6.Bg2 Bd7 7.Nc3 g6 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.e4 Bg7 10.Qe2 Bg4 11.Qd3 Nd7 12.b3 Ne5 13.Qe3 Qa5 14.Bd2 Qc5 15.Qxc5 dxc5 16.O-O Rd8 17.Be3 Nxc4 18.bxc4 Bxc3 19.Rab1 Bd4 20.e5 O-O 21.Bh6 Bxe5 22.Bxf8 Kxf8 23.h3 Bf5 24.Rfd1 Bd4 25.Rbc1 Rb8 26.Rd2 Rb6 27.g4 Be6 28.Bf3 Ra6 29.Kg2 Kg7 30.Be2 Ra4 31.Rdc2 Rb4 32.Bf3 Rb6 33.Re2 Ra6 34.Rec2 Bf6 35.Rb1 Be5 36.Rb7 Bd6 37.Be4 h5 38.gxh5 gxh5 39.Bf3 Ra3 40.Rb3 Ra4 41.Be2 h4 42.Rbc3 Be5 43.Rb3 Bd4 44.Rb7 Bf5 45.Rd2 Kf6 46.Rc7 e6 47.Bf3 Rxc4 48.Rxa7 Rc3 49.Re2 e5 50.Ra6 e4 51.Bxe4 Bxh3+ 52.Kg1 Bg4 53.Re1 Kg5 54.Rxc6 f5 55.Bg2 Rc2 56.Rf1 Be2 57.Kh1 Bxf1 58.Bxf1 Rxf2 59.Bc4 h3 60.Rc8 Rc2 61.Bb3 Re2 62.Rg8+ Kh4 63.a4 Be5 64.a5 h2 65.Bc4 Re1+ 0-1

Round 16, June 21
Svidler, Peter – Radjabov, Teimour
A01 Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack, Symmetrical variation

1.b3 b6 2.e4 Bb7 3.Nc3 e6 4.Qe2 Nc6 5.Bb2 Bc5 6.O-O-O Qe7 7.Kb1 Nf6 8.Nb5 O-O 9.d4 Bb4 10.d5 exd5 11.exd5 Qxe2 12.Bxe2 Ne7 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Nxc7 Rac8 15.Bf3 d6 16.Nb5 Rc5 17.c4 Rd8 18.a3 Ba5 19.Ne2 a6 20.Nbd4 Rcc8 21.b4 Bxb4 22.axb4 Rxc4 23.Nc2 Rdc8 24.Rd2 a5 25.bxa5 bxa5 26.Ne3 Rb4+ 27.Rb2 Ba6 28.Rxb4 axb4 29.Nd4 Ng6 30.Rc1 Ra8 31.Be4 Nf4 32.Rc6 Bb7 33.Rxd6 Re8 34.f3 h5 35.Rxf6 Nd3 36.Nef5 Nc5 37.Nd6 Rd8 38.Nxb7 Nxb7 39.Nf5 Nc5 40.Rc6 Na4 41.Kc2 1-0

Round 17, June 21
Nepo – Firouzja, Alireza
B22 Sicilian-Alekhine-Alapin

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.d4 cxd4 6.Bc4 Nb6 7.Bb3 g6 8.Ng5 Nxe5 9.Qxd4 f6 10.Qxe5 d5 11.Qe2 fxg5 12.Bxg5 Bg7 13.O-O Qd6 14.Na3 Bd7 15.Rad1 e6 16.Nb5 Bxb5 17.Qxb5+ Qd7 18.Qb4 h6 19.Bh4 g5 20.Bg3 Qe7 21.Bd6 Qd7 22.Rfe1 O-O-O 23.Rxe6 Qxe6 24.Qc5+ Kd7 25.Qc7+ Ke8 26.Qxg7 Rg8 27.Qxb7 Rxd6 28.Qxa7 Kf8 29.a4 Nd7 30.Bxd5 Kg7 31.c4 Qf6 32.c5 Re8 33.cxd6 Qxd6 34.g3 Re7 35.Bf3 Qe6 36.Qd4+ Ne5 37.Bg2 Rd7 38.Bd5 Qf6 39.Qe4 Re7 40.Kg2 h5 41.a5 h4 42.a6 h3+ 43.Kg1 Qxa6 44.Qf5 Qh6 45.Bb3 Qh5 46.Kh1 Ng4 47.Rf1 Nf6 48.Qd3 Qe8 49.f3 Re3 50.Qf5 Rxb3 51.Qxg5+ Kf7 52.Qh4 Qe6 53.Qd4 Qe2 54.Qf2 Qb5 55.Rb1 Qd5 56.Rf1 Ng4 57.Qe2 Ne5 58.Qe4 Qxe4 59.fxe4+ Ke6 60.Rf2 Ng4 61.Re2 Rd3 62.Re1 Rd2 63.Rb1 Rxh2+ 64.Kg1 Rg2+ 65.Kf1 Ne3+ 0-1

The wheels may be coming off for Firouzja, as he's now close to lost in 8 moves vs. Nepo!

Wow! 22.Rxe6?? looks to be a losing blunder for Nepo and suddenly Firouzja is winning!

An insane game with twist after twist after twist seeing Nepo not taking the sole lead but losing to Alireza Firouzja, who now has 6.5/8 today! Wesley So is the sole leader with one round to go today

Round 17, June 21
MVL – Svidler, Peter
A10 English, Adorjan Defence

1.c4 g6 2.e4 e5 3.d4 Nf6 4.dxe5 Nxe4 5.Bd3 Nc5 6.Nf3 d6 7.Bc2 Nc6 8.exd6 Qxd6 9.Qe2+ Qe7 10.Be3 Bg4 11.Nc3 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 Nd4 13.Qd1 O-O-O 14.Nd5 Nxc2+ 15.Qxc2 Qe4 16.O-O-O c6 17.Nc3 Qxc2+ 18.Kxc2 Rxd1 19.Rxd1 a6 20.b4 Ne6 21.a3 b5 22.c5 Be7 23.a4 Rd8 24.Ra1 Kb7 25.axb5 axb5 26.Ne4 Ra8 27.Rd1 Rd8 28.Nd6+ Bxd6 29.cxd6 Ra8 30.Kb3 Kc8 31.Bc5 Kd7 32.Re1 Ra6 33.g3 h5 34.h4 f5 35.f3 Ra8 36.Rg1 Ra4 37.Rc1 Ra8 38.Re1 Ra6 39.Kb2 Ra8 40.Rg1 Ra4 41.Rc1 Nxc5 42.bxc5 f4 43.gxf4 Rxf4 44.Kb3 Rxh4 45.Rg1 Rc4 46.Rg5 h4 47.f4 h3 48.Rxg6 Rxc5 49.Rh6 Rf5 50.Rxh3 Rxf4 51.Rd3 Rf6 52.Kb4 Rxd6 53.Rh3 Rd4+ 54.Kc5 Rc4+ 55.Kb6 b4 56.Rd3+ Ke6 57.Ka5 c5 58.Ka4 Ke5 59.Kb3 Rd4 60.Rh3 Re4 61.Rd3 c4+ 0-1

Round 18, June 21
Svidler, Peter – Rapport, Richard
B40 Sicilian, Anderssen variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.a3 d6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Bc4 O-O 9.Qe2 a6 10.O-O-O Qc7 11.Bb3 Na5 12.Kb1 b5 13.g4 Nxb3 14.cxb3 b4 15.axb4 Qb7 16.f3 Bd7 17.g5 Ne8 18.h4 Nc7 19.h5 Qxb4 20.g6 Bf6 21.gxh7+ Kh8 22.Qd2 Rab8 23.h6 g6 24.Bg5 Be5 25.f4 Bxd4 26.Qxd4+ Qxd4 27.Rxd4 d5 28.Be7 Rfc8 29.f5 exf5 30.exd5 Nb5 31.Nxb5 axb5 32.d6 Kxh7 33.Re1 Re8 34.Rc1 Rbc8 35.Rc7 Be6 36.d7 Bxd7 37.Rcxd7 Kxh6 38.Bb4 g5 39.Rxf7 Kg6 40.Rdd7 f4 41.Rg7+ Kh6 42.Rh7+ Kg6 43.Rdg7+ Kf5 44.Rh5 Ke4 45.Rgxg5 f3 46.Rf5 Red8 47.Re5+ Kf4 48.Rhf5+ Kg4 49.Rg5+ Kf4 50.Bc5 Rd1+ 51.Kc2 Rd7 52.Ref5+ Ke4 53.b4 Rdd8 54.Rf7 Re8 55.Rg4+ Kd5 56.Rxf3 1-0

A 3-game winning streak at the end takes Peter Svidler into 3rd place!

Round 18, June 21
Kramnik, Vladimir – Radjabov, Teimour
C02 French, Advance, Milner-Barry Gambit

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.Be2 Bd7 7.O-O Nh6 8.Bxh6 gxh6 9.Qd2 a6 10.Na3 Rg8 11.Nc2 h5 12.Rab1 a5 13.Rfd1 Be7 14.c4 dxc4 15.dxc5 Qc7 16.Na3 Bxc5 17.Nxc4 Rd8 18.Rbc1 Rg7 19.Qh6 Kf8 20.Ng5 Kg8 21.Bd3 Nxe5 22.Bxh7+ Kf8 23.Ne4 Nxc4 24.b3 Bc6 25.bxc4 Ba3 26.Rb1 Be7 27.Rxd8+ Qxd8 28.Re1 Qd4 0-1

Round 18, June 21
Firouzja, Alireza – Caruana, Fabiano
C55 Two Knights Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 h6 5.c3 Bc5 6.Nbd2 d6 7.O-O O-O 8.h3 Bb6 9.Bb3 Ne7 10.Re1 Ng6 11.Nf1 Re8 12.Ng3 Be6 13.Bc2 d5 14.exd5 Bxd5 15.Ne4 Qe7 16.Nh2 Rad8 17.Qf3 Nxe4 18.dxe4 Be6 19.Ng4 Qh4 20.Ne3 Nf4 21.Nf5 Qh5 22.Qxh5 Nxh5 23.Bb3 Nf4 24.g3 Nxh3+ 25.Kg2 Nxf2 26.Re2 Ng4 27.Kf3 h5 28.Bg5 f6 29.Bd2 Bxb3 30.axb3 Rd3+ 31.Kg2 Kf7 32.Rh1 g6 33.Nh4 Nf2 34.Rf1 Nxe4 35.Be1 Re3 36.Rc2 Rd8 37.Nf3 Ke6 38.c4 Rxb3 39.Nh4 Bd4 40.Re2 Rxb2 0-1

24.g3?? and Alireza's wonderful day ends with a loss to Caruana, who wins his 1st game of the day!

Round 18, June 21
So, Wesley – Nepo
D38 QGD, Ragozin variation

1.d4 e6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.e3 O-O 7.Bd2 dxc4 8.Bxc4 Bd6 9.Qc2 e5 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Nxe5 Bxe5 12.f4 Bxc3 13.Bxc3 Ng4 14.Bd4 c5 15.Bxc5 Re8 16.O-O Nxe3 17.Bxe3 Rxe3 18.Rfe1 Rxe1+ 19.Rxe1 Qd4+ 20.Qf2 Qxf2+ 21.Kxf2 Kf8 22.Bd5 Bd7 23.Re3 Rc8 24.Bxb7 Rb8 25.Rb3 Ba4 26.Ra3 Rxb7 27.Rxa4 Rxb2+ 28.Kf3 Rb7 29.g4 g6 30.h4 Kg7 31.Ra6 h5 32.gxh5 gxh5 33.Ra5 Kg6 34.a4 Rb3+ 35.Ke4 Rb4+ 36.Kf3 Rb3+ 37.Ke4 Rb4+ 38.Kf3 1/2-1/2

A safe draw in So-Nepo means Wesley So goes into tomorrow's final day of blitz with a half point lead over Ian Nepomniachtchi. 2 losses in the last 3 games meant a dream day for Alireza Firouzja wasn't quite enough to get him in contention for 1st

**Hans Jung** · Tuesday, 22nd June, 2021, 11:01 AM

I dont usually watch to much speed chess online but there can be remarkably creative efforts that I luckily catch. Firoujza - Radjabov is one of them. I was astounded to see at move 32 after the natural ....f5 by Black (who could argue?) Firoujza coming up with Qxc6 and then Bxb6 (obviously confusing Radjabov) Further along after the double exchange by the rooks on d7 Radjabov could have played Qxd7 and even I admit that Black must be winning tho I loved staring at the two knights and two pawns "compensation". Anyways Firoujza must have been having fun with the two knights in the resulting endgame as it all was played out to almost a hundred moves! All in one speed game! Great entertainment!

**Wayne Komer** · Tuesday, 22nd June, 2021, 02:25 PM

Paris Rapid & Blitz 2021

June 22, 2021

Blitz

Day 2

Rounds 19 to 27

Round 19 (B10)

Rapport-Nepo 0.5-0.5
So-Caruana 0.5-0.5
Firouzja-Radjabov 1-0
Kramnik-MVL 0-1
Aronian-Svidler 0.5-0.5

Round 20 (B11)

Aronian-Rapport 1-0
Svidler-Kramnik 1-0
MVL-Firouzja 1-0
Radjabov-So 0.5-0.5
Caruana-Nepo 0.5-0.5

Round 21 (B12)

Rapport-Caruana 1-0
Nepo-Radjabov 0.5-0.5
So-MVL 1-0
Firouzja-Svidler 1-0
Kramnik-Aronian 0-1

Round 22 (B13)

Kramnik-Rapport 0.5-0.5
Aronian-Firouzja 0.5-0.5
Svidler-So 0.5-0.5
MVL-Nepo 0-1
Radjabov-Caruana 0-1

Round 23 (B14)

Rapport-Radjabov 1-0
Caruana-MVL 0.5-0.5
Nepo-Svidler 1-0
So-Aronian 1-0
Firouzja-Kramnik 1-0

Round 24 (B15)

Firouzja-Rapport 0-1
Kramnik-So 0-1
Aronian-Nepo 0.5-0.5
Svidler-Caruana 0-1
MVL-Radjabov 1-0

Round 25 (B16)

Rapport-MVL 0.5-0.5
Radjabov-Svidler 1-0
Caruana-Aronian 0.5-0.5
Nepo-Kramnik 0.5-0.5
So-Firouzja 1-0

Round 26 (B17)

So-Rapport 0.5-0.5
Firouzja-Nepo 1-0
Kramnik-Caruana 1-0
Aronian-Radjabov 0-1
Svidler-MVL 0.5-0.5

Round 27 (B18)

Rapport-Svidler 0.5-0.5
MVL-Aronian 0-1
Radjabov-Kramnik 0-1
Caruana-Firouzja 1-0
Nepo-So 0-1

Final Standings

1 So 24.5
2 Nepo 21.5
3-4 MVL, Firouzja 18
5-6 Aronian, Rapport 17.5
7 Svidler 17
8 Caruana 16.5
9 Radjabov 14
10 Bacrot 10/18
11 Kramnik 5.5/18

Selected Games

Round 19, June 22
Firouzja, Alireza – Radjabov, Teimour
C28 Vienna game

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Na5 5.Nge2 Nxc4 6.dxc4 d6 7.Ng3 Be7 8.h3 Be6 9.b3 c6 10.O-O O-O 11.Qf3 Re8 12.Rd1 Qc7 13.Rd3 Rad8 14.Bg5 h6 15.Be3 a6 16.a4 Nd7 17.Nh5 Bf8 18.Rad1 Kh7 19.Ng3 a5 20.Nf5 Nc5 21.R3d2 g6 22.Ng3 b6 23.Nf1 Bg7 24.Nh2 Qe7 25.Nf1 Rf8 26.Ng3 Bf6 27.Rb1 Bg7 28.Rbd1 Kh8 29.Nce2 Kg8 30.Nc1 Kh7 31.Nd3 Nd7 32.Nf1 f5 33.exf5 gxf5 34.Qxc6 f4 35.Bxb6 Rc8 36.Qb5 Rb8 37.c5 e4 38.Ne1 dxc5 39.Rxd7 Bxd7 40.Rxd7 Qe6 41.Qxc5 Rxb6 42.Qxf8 Qxd7 43.Qxf4 Qe6 44.Ne3 Rd6 45.g4 Rd7 46.N1g2 Rf7 47.Nf5 Be5 48.Qe3 Bc7 49.Ngh4 Bb6 50.Qf4 e3 51.fxe3 Rd7 52.Nf3 Qc6 53.c4 Qe6 54.Kg2 Bc7 55.N3d4 Qf6 56.Qe4 Qe5 57.Qxe5 Bxe5 58.Kf3 Kg6 59.Ke4 Bb8 60.c5 Rb7 61.Nb5 h5 62.c6 Rh7 63.gxh5+ Rxh5 64.Ne7+ Kf7 65.Nd5 Rh4+ 66.Kd3 Ke6 67.c7 Bxc7 68.Ndxc7+ Ke5 69.Nd4 Rxh3 70.Ncb5 Kd5 71.Na3 Kc5 72.Nc4 Kb4 73.Ne5 Kc5 74.Nec6 Kb6 75.Ne5 Kc5 76.Ng6 Rh1 77.Nf4 Rh8 78.Ke4 Re8+ 79.Nfe6+ Kd6 80.Kd3 Rh8 81.Ng5 Kc5 82.Ne4+ Kb4 83.Nd2 Rh3 84.Nc6+ Kc5 85.Nxa5 Kb4 86.Nc6+ Kc5 87.Nd4 Kb4 88.Nc2+ Kc5 89.b4+ Kd5 90.Ne4 Rh1 91.Nc3+ Kc6 92.Nd4+ Kd6 93.a5 Ra1 94.Kc4 Re1 95.a6 Kc7 96.b5 Ra1 97.e4 Kd6 98.Nc2 Rc1 99.a7 1-0

Round 20, June 22
Aronian, Levon – Rapport, Richard
A48 King’s Indian, East Indian Defence

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 c6 5.e3 Bg4 6.h3 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 Nbd7 8.g4 e6 9.Bd3 Bb4 10.O-O h5 11.g5 Ng8 12.Ne2 Ne7 13.c4 Ba5 14.Qg3 Rc8 15.b4 Bc7 16.Bxc7 Rxc7 17.c5 Nf5 18.Bxf5 h4 19.Qd6 gxf5 20.Kh1 Nf8 21.Qxd8+ Kxd8 22.f4 Kd7 23.b5 b6 24.a4 Ng6 25.Kg2 Rb8 26.Rfb1 Ne7 27.Kf3 Kc8 28.Nc3 Kd7 29.a5 bxc5 30.b6 axb6 31.axb6 Rcb7 32.dxc5 e5 33.Ra7 exf4 34.exf4 Kc8 35.Rba1 Kd7 36.Ne2 Nc8 37.Rxb7+ Rxb7 38.Nd4 Ne7 39.Ra8 Ng6 40.Ra7 Kc8 41.Rxb7 Kxb7 42.Nxf5 Ka6 43.Nd6 d4 44.f5 Ne5+ 45.Ke4 d3 46.Ke3 d2 47.Ke2 Nf3 48.g6 fxg6 49.fxg6 Ng1+ 50.Kxd2 1-0

Round 20, June 22
Svidler, Peter – Kramnik, Vladimir
A37 English, symmetrical variation

1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.O-O Bf5 7.d3 Qd7 8.Bd2 Nf6 9.Rb1 Bh3 10.a3 Bxg2 11.Kxg2 O-O 12.b4 b6 13.h3 Rac8 14.e4 Ne8 15.b5 Nd8 16.a4 f5 17.Qe2 Bxc3 18.Bxc3 e5 19.exf5 gxf5 20.Nd2 f4 21.Qg4+ Qxg4 22.hxg4 Ne6 23.f3 fxg3 24.Kxg3 Nf4 25.Ne4 Nf6 26.Bd2 d5 27.Nxf6+ Rxf6 28.Bxf4 exf4+ 29.Kh4 Rd8 30.Rbe1 Kf7 31.Re5 dxc4 32.dxc4 Rd2 33.g5 Re6 34.Rfe1 Rxe5 35.Rxe5 Rd4 36.Kh5 Rxc4 37.Kh6 Rc1 38.Rf5+ Ke6 39.Rxf4 c4 40.Kxh7 c3 41.Rc4 c2 42.Kg6 Kd5 43.Rc8 Kd4 44.f4 Kd3 45.f5 Rf1 46.f6 c1=Q 47.Rxc1 Rxc1 48.f7 Rc8 49.Kf6 Ke4 50.g6 1-0

Round 20, June 22
MVL – Firouzja, Alireza
B221 Sicilian, Alapin’s variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.Bc4 Nb6 6.Bb3 c4 7.Bc2 d5 8.exd6 Qxd6 9.O-O g6 10.a4 Bg7 11.a5 Nd5 12.d3 cxd3 13.Bxd3 O-O 14.Be4 Rd8 15.Na3 Nxc3 16.Qxd6 Ne2+ 17.Kh1 Rxd6 18.Nb5 Rd8 19.a6 Rb8 20.Be3 Ned4 21.Nbxd4 Nxd4 22.Bf4 e5 23.Nxe5 Bf5 24.Bxf5 Nxf5 25.Nc4 b5 26.Bxb8 Rxb8 27.Na5 Bxb2 28.Nc6 Rb6 29.Nxa7 Bxa1 30.Rxa1 Nd6 31.Nc6 Rxc6 32.a7 Rc8 33.a8=Q Rxa8 34.Rxa8+ Kg7 35.Rd8 Nc4 36.Rd5 Na3 37.Kg1 Kf6 38.Kf1 Ke6 39.Rd3 Nc4 40.Rd8 h5 41.Rb8 Nd6 42.Ke2 Kd5 43.Kd3 Kc5 44.f3 Kd5 45.Ra8 Ke5 46.Ra1 Kd5 47.Re1 Nc4 48.Re7 Kd6 49.Ra7 Ne5+ 50.Kc3 Ke6 51.Rb7 Nc4 52.Rxb5 Ne3 53.g3 h4 54.gxh4 Nf5 55.h5 gxh5 56.Kd3 Kf6 57.Ra5 Kg6 58.Ke4 Nd6+ 59.Kf4 f6 60.Rc5 Ne8 61.Rc1 Ng7 62.Rg1+ Kf7 63.Rxg7+ Kxg7 64.Kf5 h4 65.Kg4 Kg6 66.Kxh4 Kf5 67.Kg3 Kg5 68.h4+ Kf5 69.Kg2 Ke5 70.h5 Kf5 71.f4 Ke6 72.Kf3 f5 73.Ke3 1-0

Round 21, June 22
Rapport, Richard – Caruana, Fabiano
C00 Reti, King’s Indian Attack

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.O-O e6 5.d3 Nc6 6.Nbd2 Be7 7.e4 O-O 8.Re1 Qc7 9.c3 b5 10.exd5 exd5 11.Nb3 Be6 12.Be3 Nd7 13.Ng5 Bxg5 14.Bxg5 Rfe8 15.d4 c4 16.Nc5 Nxc5 17.dxc5 Qd7 18.b4 d4 19.a4 a6 20.Qf3 Rac8 21.axb5 axb5 22.h4 d3 23.Ra6 h6 24.Bd2 Ne7 25.Rd6 Qa7 26.h5 Qa2 27.Qf4 Rcd8 28.Bf3 Rf8 29.g4 Nd5 30.Bxd5 Bxd5 31.Kh2 Qa8 32.Kg3 Be6 33.f3 Rxd6 34.cxd6 Rd8 35.Be3 Qc6 36.Bc5 Ra8 37.Qe5 Qd5 38.Qxd5 Bxd5 39.f4 Bc6 40.f5 f6 41.Kf4 Re8 42.Ra1 Rd8 43.Ra2 Kf7 44.Ra7+ Rd7 45.Ra6 Bb7 46.Ra2 Rd8 47.Ra7 Rd7 48.Ra1 Rd8 49.Kg3 Bc6 50.Kf2 Rd7 51.Ra6 Be4 52.Ke3 Bg2 53.Ra2 Bd5 54.Kd2 Bf3 55.Ra5 Bxg4 56.Rxb5 Bxf5 57.Ra5 Bg4 58.b5 Bxh5 59.Ke3 Bg4 60.b6 Bh3 61.Ra7 Ke6 62.Rxd7 1-0

Round 21, June 22
Firouzja, Alireza – Svidler, Peter
C28 Vienna game

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nc6 4.d3 Bb4 5.Nf3 d5 6.exd5 Nxd5 7.O-O Bxc3 8.bxc3 O-O 9.Re1 Bg4 10.Bd2 Re8 11.h3 Bh5 12.Qe2 Qd6 13.Rab1 Nb6 14.Bb3 Qf6 15.g4 Bg6 16.Ng5 h6 17.Ne4 Bxe4 18.Qxe4 Nd7 19.Bd5 Qd6 20.Qc4 Nd8 21.Bxb7 Nxb7 22.Rxb7 Rec8 23.Be3 Nb6 24.Qe4 Nd5 25.c4 Nc3 26.Qf3 e4 27.Qf5 exd3 28.cxd3 Re8 29.Rb3 Nxa2 30.Qa5 f5 31.Qxa2 fxg4 32.c5 Qd5 33.Rb2 Qxa2 34.Rxa2 gxh3 35.Rea1 1-0

Round 22, June 22
Radjabov, Teimour – Caruana, Fabiano
A05 Reti, Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.b3 g6 3.Bb2 Bg7 4.g3 O-O 5.Bg2 d6 6.d4 e5 7.dxe5 Ng4 8.O-O Nc6 9.c4 a5 10.Nc3 Ngxe5 11.Qd2 Re8 12.Rad1 Nxf3+ 13.Bxf3 Nd4 14.Bg2 Bg4 15.f3 Bd7 16.e3 Nf5 17.Rfe1 a4 18.f4 axb3 19.axb3 c6 20.Kh1 h5 21.c5 d5 22.e4 Nd4 23.exd5 Nxb3 24.Qf2 Rxe1+ 25.Rxe1 Bd4 26.Qe2 Qa5 27.Qc4 Bf2 28.Rd1 Nxc5 29.dxc6 bxc6 30.h3 Rb8 31.Qe2 Bxg3 32.Ba1 Bxf4 33.Qe7 Bh6 34.Nd5 cxd5 35.Qe5 Kh7 36.Qxb8 Bg7 37.Bxg7 Kxg7 38.Qe5+ f6 39.Qxd5 Qc3 40.Qd6 Bf5 41.Qe7+ Kh6 42.h4 Ne6 43.Qd6 Qe3 44.Qb8 0-1

(to be continued)

**Wayne Komer** · Tuesday, 22nd June, 2021, 02:26 PM

Paris Rapid & Blitz 2021

June 22, 2021

Blitz

Day 2 (continued)

Rounds 22 to 27

Round 23, June 22
Rapport, Richard – Radjabov, Teimour
A07 Reti, King’s Indian Attack

1.g3 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bg2 c6 4.O-O Bf5 5.c4 e6 6.cxd5 exd5 7.d3 Be7 8.Nc3 O-O 9.Nd4 Bg6 10.e4 dxe4 11.dxe4 Nbd7 12.f4 Bh5 13.Qd2 Nb6 14.Kh1 Nc4 15.Qd3 c5 16.Qxc4 cxd4 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.exd5 Rc8 19.Qxd4 Bc5 20.Qd3 Re8 21.Bf3 Bxf3+ 22.Qxf3 Qf6 23.Rb1 Qf5 24.Bd2 Red8 25.Bc3 Rxd5 26.Rbe1 Rcd8 27.Re4 h5 28.Rfe1 f6 29.Kg2 Kh7 30.R4e2 Kg6 31.h3 Rd3 32.g4 Qd5 33.Qxd5 R8xd5 34.Rf1 b5 35.Rf3 Rxf3 36.Kxf3 Rd3+ 37.Kg2 hxg4 38.hxg4 Be3 39.f5+ Kf7 40.Kf3 Bb6+ 41.Kg2 Bc7 42.Re4 Bb6 43.Bb4 a5 44.Re7+ Kg8 45.Re8+ Kh7 46.Be1 b4 47.Re6 Bc7 48.Re7 Bf4 49.b3 Kh6 50.Bf2 Be5 51.Be1 Bf4 52.Bf2 Be5 53.Bh4 Rd2+ 54.Kf3 Rxa2 55.Bf2 Kh7 56.g5 Ra3 57.g6+ Kh6 58.Be3+ Kh5 59.Rxg7 1-0

Round 23, June 22
Nepo – Svidler, Peter
A37 English, symmetrical variation

1.c4 g6 2.Nf3 Bg7 3.g3 c5 4.Bg2 Nc6 5.Nc3 d6 6.O-O Bd7 7.e3 Nf6 8.d4 O-O 9.b3 a6 10.Bb2 Rb8 11.Qe2 Bg4 12.dxc5 dxc5 13.h3 Bd7 14.Rfd1 Qc7 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.cxd5 Ne5 18.Qb2 f6 19.Nxe5 Qxe5 20.Qxe5 fxe5 21.d6 e6 22.Rac1 Rfc8 23.Rc3 b5 24.Rdc1 Rb6 25.Rxc5 Rxc5 26.Rxc5 Kf6 27.f4 exf4 28.e4 fxg3 29.e5+ Kf5 30.Rc7 Kxe5 31.Rxd7 Rxd6 32.Rxd6 Kxd6 33.b4 Kc7 34.Be4 1-0

Round 23, June 22
Firouzja, Alireza – Kramnik, Vladimir
C26 Vienna game

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 d6 5.h3 Nc6 6.a3 a6 7.Nge2 O-O 8.Ng3 h6 9.O-O b5 10.Ba2 Be6 11.Kh2 Bxa2 12.Rxa2 d5 13.exd5 Nxd5 14.Nce4 Bd6 15.Bxh6 f5 16.Bg5 Qd7 17.c4 Nf4 18.Nxd6 Qxd6 19.b4 Nd4 20.Kg1 Qg6 21.Bxf4 exf4 22.Qh5 Qxh5 23.Nxh5 f3 24.Nf4 Rae8 25.h4 bxc4 26.dxc4 Re4 27.g3 Rd8 28.Kh2 Kf7 29.Nh3 Ne6 30.Ng1 Rd3 31.c5 g5 32.Nh3 gxh4 33.Rg1 hxg3+ 34.Rxg3 Rh4 35.a4 Nf4 36.b5 Rd8 37.Ra3 Nxh3 38.Rxh3 Rxh3+ 39.Kxh3 axb5 40.axb5 Rd5 41.Rc3 Ke6 42.Kg3 Rd4 43.Rb3 Kd7 44.b6 cxb6 45.cxb6 Kc8 46.Kxf3 Kb7 47.Rb5 f4 48.Kg4 Ra4 49.f3 Rc4 50.Rf5 Kxb6 51.Rxf4 Rc1 52.Rd4 Kc5 53.Rd2 Rg1+ 54.Kf5 Rg8 55.f4 Rf8+ 56.Kg5 Rg8+ 57.Kh6 Rf8 58.Rf2 Kd5 59.Kg7 Rf5 60.Kg6 Rf8 61.f5 Rg8+ 62.Kh7 Ra8 63.f6 Ke6 64.f7 1-0

Round 24, June 22
Firouzja, Alireza – Rapport, Richard
B40 Sicilian, Anderssen variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Ndb5 Bb4 7.Bf4 Nxe4 8.Qf3 d5 9.Nc7+ Kf8 10.Nxa8 e5 11.Bd2 Nd4 12.Qd1 Qh4 13.g3 Qf6 14.Nxe4 Nf3+ 15.Qxf3 Qxf3 16.Bxb4+ Kg8 17.Nd6 Qxh1 18.O-O-O Be6 19.Nc7 Qxh2 20.Nxd5 Bxd5 21.Rxd5 Qxf2 22.Bc4 Qe3+ 23.Rd2 Qe1+ 24.Rd1 Qxb4 25.a3 Qc5 26.b4 Qe3+ 27.Kb2 g6 28.Nxf7 b5 29.Ba2 Kg7 30.Rd7 Rf8 31.Nxe5+ Kh8 32.Nf7+ Rxf7 33.Bxf7 Kg7 34.Bc4+ Kh6 35.Bd3 a6 36.g4 Qf4 37.Kb3 Qxg4 38.Rd6 Qc8 39.a4 Qg8+ 40.Ka3 Qh8 41.axb5 axb5 42.Bxb5 Qc3+ 43.Ka4 Qxc2+ 44.Ka3 Qc3+ 45.Ka4 Qc2+ 46.Ka5 Qc7+ 47.Rb6 Kg5 48.Bd3 Kf4 49.Ka6 g5 50.b5 g4 51.Rc6 Qd7 52.Bf1 g3 53.Rc4+ Ke3 54.b6 Kf2 55.b7 Qd6+ 56.Ka7 Qa3+ 57.Kb6 Qb3+ 58.Kc7 Kxf1 59.Rf4+ Ke2 60.Rg4 Kf3 61.Rg5 Qc3+ 62.Kb6 Qe3+ 63.Rc5 Qf4 64.Rc3+ Kg4 65.Rc8 Qb4+ 66.Kc6 Qc4+ 67.Kd6 Qd4+ 68.Kc6 Qe4+ 69.Kb6 Qe3+ 70.Kc6 Qf3+ 71.Kb6 Qf2+ 72.Kc6 Qf3+ 73.Kb6 Qb3+ 74.Kc6 Qc2+ 75.Kb6 Qb2+ 76.Kc6 Qc3+ 77.Kb6 Qb4+ 78.Kc6 g2 79.b8=Q Qxb8 80.Rxb8 h5 81.Kd5 Kf3 82.Rb3+ Kf2 83.Rb2+ Kg3 84.Rb3+ Kh2 85.Rb2 Kh1 86.Ke4 h4 87.Rb3 g1=Q 88.Rb2 Qe1+ 89.Kf3 Qg3+ 90.Ke4 Qg2+ 0-1

Firouzja-Kramnik the exact same endgame as Palliser-Howell, 2019. The wonderkid found the only winning idea (Kh6 and Rf2) within seconds! Impressive stuff

Just when Kramnik seemed sure to score just a 2nd win in 14 games, he blundered and Firouzja came back to win and take sole 3rd place, a full point ahead of MVL and Svidler!

Round 24, June 22
Svidler, Peter – Caruana, Fabiano
B23 Sicilian, Closed

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4 4.Nf3 e6 5.O-O a6 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.Re1 b5 8.Bf1 Qb6 9.a4 b4 10.Nd5 exd5 11.exd5+ Nce7 12.d4 d6 13.a5 Qc7 14.dxc5 Qxc5 15.c4 bxc3 16.bxc3 f6 17.Ba3 Qc7 18.Nd4 Kf7 19.Ne6 Qd7 20.Rb1 Nh6 21.Rb6 Ng6 22.Nxf8 Rxf8 23.Rxd6 Qg4 24.Qxg4 Nxg4 25.Rc6 Rd8 26.c4 N4e5 27.Rb6 Bf5 28.d6 Nf4 29.c5 Nh3+ 30.Kh1 Nxf2+ 31.Kg1 Nfd3 32.Rd1 Rac8 33.c6 Rxc6 34.Rxc6 Nxc6 35.Bxd3 Bxd3 36.Rxd3 Nxa5 37.Rc3 Rd7 38.Kf2 Ke6 39.Ke3 Rb7 40.Kd4 Kd7 41.Re3 Nc6+ 42.Kc3 Rb5 43.Rg3 g6 44.Rh3 h5 45.Rf3 Ke6 46.Rd3 Rd5 47.Rg3 Ne5 48.h3 g5 49.Kc2 Nc4 50.Bb4 Rb5 51.Rd3 Ne5 52.d7 Nxd7 53.Rd6+ Kf5 54.Bc3 Ne5 55.Rxa6 Rd5 56.Ra4 h4 57.Rb4 Rd6 58.Ra4 Ng6 59.Bd2 Ne5 60.Bc3 Rc6 61.Kd2 Ng6 62.Ra5+ Ke6 63.Ra8 0-1

Round 25, June 22
So, Wesley – Firouzja, Alireza
E49 Nimzo-Indian, Botvinnik System

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 c6 8.Ne2 b6 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.f3 Ba6 11.e4 Bxd3 12.Qxd3 Qc8 13.O-O Qa6 14.Qc2 Nc6 15.Bg5 Ne8 16.Bh4 Qc4 17.e5 f6 18.exf6 Nxf6 19.Qd2 Rae8 20.Rfe1 Nd7 21.Bg3 e5 22.dxe5 Ndxe5 23.Nf4 d4 24.Rac1 d3 25.Re4 Qc5+ 26.Kh1 Qxa3 27.Rce1 Qd6 28.h4 Qh6 29.Qa2+ 1-0

28...Qh6? 29.Qa2+! and Wesley So takes a 1.5-point lead with just 2 rounds to go!

Round 26, June 22
Firouzja, Alireza – Nepo
C11 French, Steinitz, Boleslavsky variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 a6 8.a3 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Bc5 10.Be2 O-O 11.Qd2 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 b5 13.Bf3 Qb6 14.Ne2 a5 15.O-O Bxd4+ 16.Nxd4 Nc5 17.Qe3 Bb7 18.f5 exf5 19.Nxf5 Rae8 20.b4 Na4 21.Qxb6 Nxb6 22.Nd6 Re7 23.bxa5 Nc4 24.Nxb7 Rxb7 25.Bxd5 Rd7 26.Bc6 Rc7 27.Bxb5 Nxa5 28.c4 Rfc8 29.Rf4 g6 30.a4 Re7 31.Re4 Rc5 32.Rd1 Rcxe5 33.Rxe5 Rxe5 34.Rd5 Re2 35.c5 Rc2 36.h4 Kg7 37.h5 gxh5 38.Rxh5 Nb7 39.c6 Na5 40.Rxh7+ Kxh7 41.Bd3+ Kg7 42.Bxc2 Nxc6 43.Be4 Na5 44.Kf2 Nc4 45.Bd5 Nb6 46.Bb3 f5 47.a5 Nc8 48.Be6 Ne7 49.a6 Nc6 50.Bxf5 Kf6 51.Bd3 1-0

Round 26, June 22
Kramnik, Vladimir – Caruana, Fabiano
C55 Two Knights Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 h6 5.O-O Bc5 6.c3 d6 7.Re1 Bb6 8.a4 a5 9.Nbd2 O-O 10.h3 Ne7 11.d4 Nc6 12.dxe5 Nxe5 13.Nxe5 dxe5 14.Bf1 Be6 15.Qc2 Nd7 16.Nc4 Bc5 17.Rd1 Qh4 18.Be3 Bxe3 19.Nxe3 Nc5 20.Bc4 Rae8 21.Bxe6 Rxe6 22.Rd5 Nxe4 23.Re1 Nd6 24.Rxa5 c6 25.Nf5 Nxf5 26.Qxf5 Rf6 27.Qc2 e4 28.Re5 e3 29.R1xe3 Rd6 30.Re8 Rd8 31.Rxf8+ Rxf8 32.Qe4 Qd8 33.g3 g6 34.Kg2 h5 35.b4 Qd7 36.a5 Rd8 37.c4 Kg7 38.Qe7 Kg8 39.Qf6 Qd4 40.Re8+ 1-0

Round 27, June 22
Radjabov, Teimour – Kramnik, Vladimir
A30 English, symmetrical, hedgehog System

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nc3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.Bg2 Bb7 6.O-O Be7 7.d4 cxd4 8.Qxd4 O-O 9.b3 d6 10.Ba3 Na6 11.Rad1 Nc5 12.Bb2 a6 13.Rfe1 Rc8 14.e4 Qc7 15.e5 dxe5 16.Qxe5 h6 17.h4 Rfe8 18.Qxc7 Rxc7 19.Ne5 Rec8 20.Re2 Kf8 21.Red2 Bxg2 22.Kxg2 Ke8 23.f3 h5 24.Kh3 g6 25.Ne2 Ncd7 26.Nd3 b5 27.cxb5 axb5 28.Nd4 Rb7 29.Re2 Nd5 30.Ree1 b4 31.Rc1 Rbc7 32.Rxc7 Rxc7 33.Rc1 Rxc1 34.Bxc1 Nc3 35.Bd2 Nxa2 36.Nc6 Nc5 37.Nxc5 Bxc5 38.g4 Nc3 39.Kg2 Nd5 40.Ne5 Bd6 41.Nd3 f5 42.gxh5 gxh5 43.f4 Kd7 44.Kf3 Kc6 45.Be1 Nc3 46.Ke3 Kd5 47.Bd2 Be7 48.Be1 Na2 49.Bd2 Bxh4 50.Bxb4 Bf6 51.Ba5 h4 52.Kf3 Kd4 53.Nf2 Nc1 54.b4 Kc4 55.Nh3 Nb3 56.Ke2 Nd4+ 57.Kf2 Nc6 58.Ng5 Bxg5 59.fxg5 Ne5 60.Bc7 Ng6 61.Bd6 e5 62.Kf3 Kd5 63.Bb8 Kc4 64.Bd6 f4 65.Kg4 Kd5 66.Bb8 Kc4 67.Bd6 Kb5 68.Bc5 e4 69.Bf2 e3 70.Be1 Kc4 71.Kf3 h3 0-1

He left it a bit late, but Vladimir Kramnik at least won the last two games against Caruana and Radjabov to end on a high!

Round 27, June 22
Caruana, Fabiano – Firouzja, Alireza
B30 Sicilian, Nimzowitsch-Rossolimo Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.b3 d5 6.e5 Ne7 7.d3 Qc7 8.Qe2 Nf5 9.O-O Nd4 10.Nxd4 cxd4 11.Nd2 c5 12.Nf3 h6 13.h4 Be7 14.Bf4 Bb7 15.Bg3 g5 16.h5 O-O-O 17.Nh2 Kb8 18.Ng4 Rc8 19.f3 c4 20.Bf2 cxd3 21.cxd3 Qc2 22.Qxc2 Rxc2 23.Bxd4 Ba6 24.Rfc1 Bxd3 25.Rxc2 Bxc2 26.Rc1 Bf5 27.Bxa7+ Kb7 28.Bd4 Ba3 29.Rf1 Ka6 30.Ne3 Bd3 31.Rf2 Rc8 32.Ng4 Bf8 33.f4 gxf4 34.Rxf4 Be2 35.Kf2 Rc2 36.Kg3 Rd2 37.Be3 Rd3 38.Kf2 Bd1 39.Rxf7 Bxg4 40.Rxf8 Bxh5 41.Bxh6 Rc3 42.Rb8 Rc2+ 43.Kg3 Bg6 44.Be3 Be4 45.b4 Rc3 46.Kf4 Rc4 47.Rb6+ Ka7 48.Rxe6+ Kb7 49.Bc5 Bb1+ 50.Kg5 d4 51.Rd6 d3 52.e6 Re4 53.Kf6 Bxa2 54.e7 Bc4 55.g4 Re2 56.g5 Rf2+ 57.Kg6 Re2 58.Rd8 Bb5 59.Kf7 d2 60.g6 Ba4 61.g7 d1=Q 62.Rxd1 Bxd1 63.e8=Q Bb3+ 64.Kf8 Rf2+ 65.Bxf2 1-0

Round 27, June 22
Nepo – So, Wesley
A01 Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack, Classical variation

1.b3 d5 2.Bb2 Nf6 3.e3 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.c4 c6 6.Nc3 Nbd7 7.d4 Ne4 8.a3 Bd6 9.Bd3 Nxc3 10.Bxc3 Bxd3 11.Qxd3 Qe7 12.O-O a5 13.e4 O-O 14.Bb2 dxe4 15.Qxe4 Nf6 16.Qh4 b5 17.Bc1 bxc4 18.bxc4 c5 19.a4 Rfc8 20.Be3 cxd4 21.Bxd4 Rab8 22.Bc3 Bb4 23.Be5 Bd6 24.Rfd1 Bxe5 25.Nxe5 Qc7 26.Qg5 Qc5 27.Qf4 Rb7 28.h3 h6 29.Rd3 Rcb8 30.Kh2 Rb2 31.Rf3 Qc7 32.Re1 Ra2 33.Qg3 Kh7 34.Qh4 Rbb2 35.Ree3 Re2 36.Qd4 Rxf2 37.Rxf2 Rxf2 38.c5 Nd5 39.Rg3 Rf4 40.Qb2 Rf5 41.Nf3 Nf6 42.Qb6 Rxc5 43.Qb1+ Kg8 44.Nd4 Nh5 45.Ne2 Nxg3 0-1

Wesley So wins the final game as well to clinch victory by a full 3 points, with MVL and Firouzja sharing 3rd after both players lost in the last round

Wesley So: "I'd like to thank many people — I'm sure I'll miss many names — but first I'd like to thank the Lord Jesus for letting me win"

**Hans Jung** · Tuesday, 22nd June, 2021, 04:40 PM

Rd 25 So - Firoujza (game above) Black resigns why? (It took me a minute but sometimes Im slow) Then it dawned on me. If Kh8 (what if) then the power of the pin and White can put all his pieces on the pinned knight on e5 - so for example Nd3 and Qe2 - what a pin! - paralyzing

Paris Rapid & Blitz 2021

Paris Rapid & Blitz 2021

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